Works of Art

Remington described this small bronze as a bust of a “Rough Rider Sergeant,” a reference to the famous cadre of troops led by Colonel Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American war in Cuba. The small size of this sculpture was a departure for the artist; Riccardo Bertelli, the director of the Roman Bronze Works foundry in Brooklyn, was among the artist’s friends who suggested that he do some smaller-scale subjects to take advantage of a growing market for affordable, decorative bronzes. At a retail price of only $50, this was one of Remington’s lowest priced bronzes, and commercially the most succesful. Around twenty casts were produced in the initial order to the foundry, and most of them were sold within four years. The cast shown here is #8, one of that first group. The number is stamped in very small characters on the bottom edge of the sculpture’s base.